Moistener.



1. IJASPER @1 s. cRAvEN.

MOISTENER. APPLICATION FILED JAN-11,1916.

Patented Jury 11, 1916.

@xlib/www @M JOHN JASPER AND SAMUEL CRAVEN, OF OSSINING, NEW'y YORK.

MOISTENER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed January 11, 1916. Serial No. 71,560.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN JASPER and SAMUEL CRAVEN, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Ossining, in the county of lllestchester,State of New York, have invented a new and useful Moistener; and wel dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This rinvention relates to an improved moistener, and an object of theinvention is to provide a device of this nature particularly adapted foruse in various oflices, banks and the like, and more especially inpostofllces, whereby the various clerks in 4assorting or separating ordistributing papers, checks, and money, and mail matter and the like,may easily and quickly moisten the tips of their fingers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedmoistener, which may be secured detachably to the cud, pocket, or anapron, o-r to a band, or to any other suitable device, or to the wrist,so that the moistener is handy and convenient to the user.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a moistener of the kindshown, consisting of a receptacle, provided with a flexible topconsisting of two thicknesses, and having perfor-ations, whereby whenthe top is depressed, the moistening fluid or water may be drawn intothe receptacle, that is, when the flexible top is allowed to resume itsnormal shape.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitatealterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

rlhe invention comprises further features and combination of parts, ashereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

ln the drawings: Figure l is a view in perspective, showing` theimproved moistener detachably secured-to the sleeve of a wearingapparel.` Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the moistener. Fig. 3 is a viewin side elevation. Fig. A is a view in side elevation at right angles tothat shown in Fig. 3.

Fin. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Fi'. 2. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of the flexible top, as clamped by the annular clampingring, which fits into the receptacle telescopically. Fig. 7 is aperspective view showing the flexible top inverted,

more `clearly showing the two annular clampmg rings.

Referring more especially to the drawings, l designates a casing orreceptacle, which is annular, and the upper portion of the flange o-fwhich is reduced as shown, and which reduced portion is exteriorlythreaded as shown at 2. On the interior of the flange of the receptaclean annular shoulder 3 is formed, against which the annular supportingring 4f rests. This ring l is of such thickness as to partially protrudetoward the interio-r of the receptacle. A pair of annular rings or bands5 andl Gis provided, one being smaller in diameter than the other.Stretched over the smaller ring or band is a circular piece of flexiblematerial, such as rubber or the like 7, which is provided with aVplurality of apertures 8. Also stretched over the ring or band 5, butadjacent the upper face of the flexible material 7 is a second piece offlexible material or rubber 9 having a central aperture 10, adjacentwhich aperture one of the apertures 8 is so disposed, that whendepressing said flexible pieces, the substantially central aperture willpartially overlie the adjacent aperture 8, so that when pressure isrelieved upon said pieces the moistening fluid or water willbe drawninto the receptacle. Moreover, when the balls of the flngers of theloperato-r or the user are drawn across the upper surface of theflexible piece 9, thereby partially depressing the same,

`face of the flexible piece 9, thereby moistening the balls of thefingers. l

To hold the flexible pieces 7 and 9 stretched over the annular ring orband 5 the annular ring or band G is forced telescopically over the ring5, as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 7, thereby clamping the two flexiblepieces 7 and 9 in place. The rings or bands 5 and 6 with the flexiblepieces are inserted in the receptacle 1, in order to be supported uponthe annular supporting ring 4. The annular band or vring 11 is thenthreaded to the exteriorly threadedrreduced part of the receptacle l, sothat the annular flange 12 and partially overlie the circular flexiblepieces 7 and 9, thereby preventing upward displacement of the rings 5and 6 and the flexible cover.

It isto be noted that the bottom of the will overlie the annular ring 6receptacle 1 is curved, arched or concaved, as shown at 13, so as tocorrespond to the curvature of the cuff or the sleeve of a wearingapparel.

Attached at 111 to one side of the bottom of the receptacle 1 at aspaced interval are the ends of a U-shaped clamping loop 15, the loopend of which normally engages the concavity or curved bottom of thereceptacle. lVhen attaching the receptacle to the sleeve or cufl", thelooped clamp is partially sprung downwardly, so as to permit the sleeveor the cuff to be clamped between the loop and the concavity or curvedsurface of the receptacle 1, thereby securely holding the moistener tothe sleeve or cuif or he like rlhe invention having been set forth, whatis claimed as new and useful is:

1. A finger moistener, comprising a circular cr annular receptacle, atop for said rece'atacle com nrisino' a air of vcircular flexiblepieces, one over and adjacent the other, one of said pieces having asingle perforation, the other piece being provided with a plurality ofperforations, one of which being adjacent the single perforation andadapted to partially overlie the single perforation, when the pieces aredepressed, whereby moistening fiuid may be drawn into or expelled fromthe receptacle, and an annular band having a flange threaded to thereceptacle for holding the top in place.

2. A finger moistener, comprising a circular or annular receptacle, atop for said receptacle comprising a pair of circular fiexible pieces,one over and adjacent the other, one of said pieces having a singleperforation, the other piece being provided with a plurality ofperforations, one of which being adjacent the single perforation andadapted to partially overlie the single perforation, when the pieces aredepressed, whereby moistening fluid may be drawn l into or expelled fromthe receptacle, and an a pair of annular clamping rings, one

smaller in diameter than the other and adapted to'telescope to clamp theedge portions of the flexible pieces together, and means for supportingthe annular clamping rings inserted on the interior of the receptacle.

3. A finger moistener, comprising a circular or annular receptacle, atop for said receptacle comprising a pair of circular fiexible pieces,one over and adjacent the other, one of said pieces having a singleperforation, the other piece being provided with a plurality ofperforations, one of which being adj acent the single perforation andadapted to partially overlie the single perforation, when the pieces aredepressed, whereby moistening fluid may be drawn into or expelled fromthe receptacle, and an annular band having a iiange threaded to thereceptacle for holding the top in place, a pair of annular clampingrings, one smaller in diameter than the other and adapted to telescopeto clamp the edge portions of the flexible pieces together, and meansfor supporting the annular' clamping rings inserted on the interior ofthe receptacle, the bottom of the receptacle being arched or concaved tofit and correspond to the shape of a cuff or sleeve, and a clamp carriedby the receptacle to coperate with the concavity to clamp the receptaclein place.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN JASPER. SAMUEL CRAVEN. Witnesses:

JAMES NOLAN, J oI-IN J. MoLLoY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

